mother.

To his father he owed energy, courage, and, it must also be added,
perversity. But he was his superior in education and in intellect. If he
shared his father's prejudices, he had not adopted them without weighing
them carefully. What the father might do in a moment of excitement, the
son was capable of doing in cold blood.

It was thus that the abbe, with rare sagacity, read the character of his
guests.

So it was with great sorrow, but without surprise, that he heard the
duke advance, on the questions of the day, the impossible ideas shared
by nearly all the _emigres_.

Knowing the condition of the country, and the state of public opinion,
the cure endeavored to convince the obstinate man of his mistake; but
upon this subject the duke would not permit contradiction, or even
raillery; and he was fast losing his temper, when Bibiaine appeared at
the parlor door.

"Monsieur le Duc," said she, "Monsieur Lacheneur and his daughter are
without and desire to speak to you."



CHAPTER IV.

This name Lacheneur awakened no recollection in the mind of the duke.